The Syracuse Pro Day was the next stop on the NFL Pro Day schedule, as several highly rated Orange prospects worked out in front of NFL decision-makers. One player who didn’t work out is running back Sean Tucker. Let’s take a look at why Tucker was absent from the field during today’s showcase and the other headlines coming out of Syracuse today.
Sean Tucker Dealing With Medical Concern Ahead of NFL Draft
Tucker, who chose to enter the NFL draft after two very productive seasons at Syracuse, was medically red-flagged at the Combine and prevented from participating in workouts. He also did not participate in today’s pro day workout due to the condition. The medical reason for precluding Tucker from workouts was not revealed to me to protect his privacy.
Along with more than a dozen other players, the junior running back will return to Indianapolis in a little more than two weeks’ time for the annual Combine medical re-check. The Combine medical re-check happens each year at the start of April.
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Players who were medically flagged during February’s Combine are asked to return to Indianapolis, and they are re-examined to see if their condition or injuries are improving. Not all players who were medically red-flagged during initial Combine medicals are prevented from working out as Tucker was, as it is determined on a case-by-case basis.
The hopes are Tucker will be given the green light to resume football activities after his Combine medical re-check in Indianapolis. If that happens, the plan is for Tucker, universally graded as a middle-round prospect, to complete a full workout for NFL teams prior to the draft.
Tucker was present at the Pro Day but was on the sideline in street clothes and did not speak with the media afterward.
Syracuse Pro Day | Matthew Bergeron and Andre Szmyt Perform for NFL Scouts
Thirty-one franchises were on hand in Syracuse to watch the Orange workout. Yet, there were only a few players that actually worked out as injury and other issues kept a few prospects on the sidelines. Here’s what we have been hearing so far.
Seven offensive line coaches were on hand to watch Matthew Bergeron. The local teams, including the Jets, Giants, and Bills, all sent coaches to watch Bergeron, as did the Falcons and Jaguars. I’m told Bergeron, who only completed the vertical jump (30.5″) and broad jump (8’7″) at the Combine, ran shuttles and the three-cone today but not the 40-yard dash. Times have yet to be reported for those.
Bergeron, who hails from Victoriaville, Canada, looked good in position drills. He was fluid and very smooth, easily moving about the field. The looming question coming out of the pro day is, where will Bergeron line up in the NFL?
He was a three-and-a-half-year starter at tackle for Syracuse, primarily on the left side. But many believe Bergeron’s mobility, as well as his size and style, is more conducive to playing guard in a zone-blocking system. He presently grades as a third-round offensive tackle on my board.
Andre Szmyt, considered by many as a Combine snub, kicked the stuffing out of the ball today. Szmyt connected on all four field-goal attempts he tried from long distance, hitting two from 56 yards and another two from 58 yards. All four attempts had room to spare as the ball crossed the crossbar. Szmyt also looked good with his kickoffs, driving the ball across the field with a hand time over 4.4 seconds.